wherewithal

Etymology

where +‎ withal

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌwɛə.wɪˈðl/, /ˈwɛə.wɪ.ðɔːl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈwɛəɹ.wɪ.ðɔl/, /ˈwɛəɹ.wɪ.θɔl/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈwɛəɹ.wɪ.ðɑl/, /ˈwɛəɹ.wɪ.θɑl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

wherewithal (countable and uncountable, plural wherewithals)

1. The ability and means required to accomplish some task.
   • I would like to help your project, but I do not have the wherewithal.
   • 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in Guardian‎:

     Christmas queen Mary Berry's aubergine five-nut roast, from her Christmas Collection, is, as the name suggests, rather more focused on the nut side of things. Breadcrumbs play second fiddle to a medley of almonds, Brazils, chestnuts, pine nuts and pistachios which, although tangy with lemon juice and garlic, is outrageously dense. A single slice of this could leave you supine in front of the Queen's speech without even the wherewithal to reach for the remote control.

   • 1986, David Leavitt, The Lost Language of Cranes, Penguin, paperback edition, page 67:

     "I just can't imagine," Philip said, "having that kind of self-knowledge, that kind of...wherewithal at fifteen.[...]"

Adverb

wherewithal (not comparable)

1. (archaic) In what way; how.
   • 1662, Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 119:9,

     Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

Related terms

• wherewith
• withal

See also

• (‘here-’ words) here; hereabout, hereabouts, hereafter, hereat, herebefore, hereby, herefore, herefrom, herein, hereinafter, hereinbefore, hereinto, hereof, hereon, hereto, heretofore, hereunder, hereunto, hereupon, herewith, herewithal
• (‘there-’ words) there; thereabout, thereabouts, thereafter, thereagain, thereagainst, thereamong, therearound, thereas, thereat, therebefore, therebeside, thereby, therefore, therefrom, therein, thereinafter, thereinbefore, thereinto, thereof, thereon, thereto, theretofore, thereunder, thereunto, thereupon, therewith, therewithal
• (‘where-’ words) where; whereabout, whereabouts, whereafter, whereagainst, whereamong, whereas, whereat, whereby, wherefore, wherefrom, wherein, whereinafter, whereinbefore, whereinto, whereof, whereon, whereto, wheretofore, whereunder, whereunto, whereupon, wherewith, wherewithal